Physiological Effects of Wearing N95 Respirator on Medical Staff During Prolong Work Hours in Covid-19 Departments

Liran Shechtman; Gal Ben-Haim; Ilan Ben-Zvi; Laurence Steel; Avinoah Ironi; Ella Huszti; Sumit Chatterji; Liran Levy

doi:10.1097/JOM.0000000000002542

Physiological Effects of Wearing N95 Respirator on Medical Staff During Prolong Work Hours in Covid-19 Departments

Liran Shechtman, Gal Ben-Haim, Ilan Ben-Zvi, Laurence Steel, Avinoah Ironi, Ella Huszti, Sumit Chatterji, Liran Levy^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective The objective of the current study was to determine gas exchange abnormalities and physiological changes among healthcare workers during a 4-hour emergency department (ED) shift while wearing the N95 respirator. Methods Single-center prospective observational study. Comparisons of paired measurements were performed using a non-parametric Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-rank test. Results: Forty-one subjects were included. Prolonged N95 respirator use was associated with a significant decline in plasma pH (7.35 mmHg vs 7.34 mmHg, P = 0.02), PvO2 (23.2 mmHg vs 18.6 mmHg, P < 0.001) and a concurrent increase in EtCO2 (32.5 mmHg vs 38.5 mmHg, P < 0.0001). PvCO2 and bicarbonate levels did not differ. No significant change was observed for heart rate or oxygen saturation. Conclusion Using an N95 respirator for prolonged periods by healthcare professionals may provoke changes in gas exchange. The clinical significance of these changes remains to be determined.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	E378-E380
Journal	Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
Volume	64
Issue number	6
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0000000000002542
State	Published - 1 Jun 2022

Keywords

N95 respirator
SARS CoV 2
physiological effects

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1097/JOM.0000000000002542

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title = "Physiological Effects of Wearing N95 Respirator on Medical Staff During Prolong Work Hours in Covid-19 Departments",

abstract = "Objective The objective of the current study was to determine gas exchange abnormalities and physiological changes among healthcare workers during a 4-hour emergency department (ED) shift while wearing the N95 respirator. Methods Single-center prospective observational study. Comparisons of paired measurements were performed using a non-parametric Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-rank test. Results: Forty-one subjects were included. Prolonged N95 respirator use was associated with a significant decline in plasma pH (7.35 mmHg vs 7.34 mmHg, P = 0.02), PvO2 (23.2 mmHg vs 18.6 mmHg, P < 0.001) and a concurrent increase in EtCO2 (32.5 mmHg vs 38.5 mmHg, P < 0.0001). PvCO2 and bicarbonate levels did not differ. No significant change was observed for heart rate or oxygen saturation. Conclusion Using an N95 respirator for prolonged periods by healthcare professionals may provoke changes in gas exchange. The clinical significance of these changes remains to be determined.",

keywords = "N95 respirator, SARS CoV 2, physiological effects",

author = "Liran Shechtman and Gal Ben-Haim and Ilan Ben-Zvi and Laurence Steel and Avinoah Ironi and Ella Huszti and Sumit Chatterji and Liran Levy",

year = "2022",

month = jun,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1097/JOM.0000000000002542",

language = "אנגלית",

volume = "64",

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AU - Shechtman, Liran

AU - Ben-Haim, Gal

AU - Ben-Zvi, Ilan

AU - Steel, Laurence

AU - Ironi, Avinoah

AU - Huszti, Ella

AU - Chatterji, Sumit

AU - Levy, Liran

PY - 2022/6/1

Y1 - 2022/6/1

N2 - Objective The objective of the current study was to determine gas exchange abnormalities and physiological changes among healthcare workers during a 4-hour emergency department (ED) shift while wearing the N95 respirator. Methods Single-center prospective observational study. Comparisons of paired measurements were performed using a non-parametric Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-rank test. Results: Forty-one subjects were included. Prolonged N95 respirator use was associated with a significant decline in plasma pH (7.35 mmHg vs 7.34 mmHg, P = 0.02), PvO2 (23.2 mmHg vs 18.6 mmHg, P < 0.001) and a concurrent increase in EtCO2 (32.5 mmHg vs 38.5 mmHg, P < 0.0001). PvCO2 and bicarbonate levels did not differ. No significant change was observed for heart rate or oxygen saturation. Conclusion Using an N95 respirator for prolonged periods by healthcare professionals may provoke changes in gas exchange. The clinical significance of these changes remains to be determined.

AB - Objective The objective of the current study was to determine gas exchange abnormalities and physiological changes among healthcare workers during a 4-hour emergency department (ED) shift while wearing the N95 respirator. Methods Single-center prospective observational study. Comparisons of paired measurements were performed using a non-parametric Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-rank test. Results: Forty-one subjects were included. Prolonged N95 respirator use was associated with a significant decline in plasma pH (7.35 mmHg vs 7.34 mmHg, P = 0.02), PvO2 (23.2 mmHg vs 18.6 mmHg, P < 0.001) and a concurrent increase in EtCO2 (32.5 mmHg vs 38.5 mmHg, P < 0.0001). PvCO2 and bicarbonate levels did not differ. No significant change was observed for heart rate or oxygen saturation. Conclusion Using an N95 respirator for prolonged periods by healthcare professionals may provoke changes in gas exchange. The clinical significance of these changes remains to be determined.

KW - N95 respirator

KW - SARS CoV 2

KW - physiological effects

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Physiological Effects of Wearing N95 Respirator on Medical Staff During Prolong Work Hours in Covid-19 Departments

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

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